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PHOTO: Col. Scott Lewis, Maine Army National Guard chief of staff, presents Sgt. 1st Class David Chabe, of Auburn, with the Army Commendation Medal. (Maj. Carl Lamb photo)
BRUNSWICK – The Maine National Guard’s 133rd Engineer Battalion’s Forward Support Company was presented with the national Supply Excellence Award in the individual unit category.
Sgt. 1st Class David Chabe, of Auburn, outgoing supply sergeant for the Forward Support Company, received the Army Commendation Medal for his central role in the unit award.
The award is given each fiscal year by the U.S. Army Chief of Staff for superior performance improving combat readiness in four emphasized areas – mission accomplishment, effective resource management, innovative logistics management, and soldier quality of life.
“This national supply award is to recognize that the FSC has the best supply room and procedures of all company level units in the National Guard,” said Col. Ham Richards during the presentation. “The supply sergeant is the lead agent in making this happen. Yet at the same time, this is a unit achievement. Command support of supply operations as well as administrative support, and rank-and-file support of supply operations all come into play.”
After the event, Adj. Gen. Douglas Farnham said, “We’re tremendously proud of Sgt. 1st Class Chabe and everyone that had a hand in this accomplishment. Supply and logistics professionals play a pivotal role in any military organization’s ability to be ready at a moment’s notice. A trained force that is improperly equipped will not be combat-effective. Congratulations to the FSC and Sgt. 1st Class Chabe for setting such a great example.”
Chabe said that the actual accomplishment “is plaque for a display case,” but, “It is in our organization coming together, shoulder to shoulder, and making decisions based on knowledge and experience. The efforts of the members of the Forward Support Company and the support of the 133rd Engineer Battalion were instrumental in bringing this award to Maine.”
Since 2011, the Maine Army National Guard has produced 11 regional SEA winners, three national winners, one national Army runner-up, and one national Joint runner up with all the Armed Services competing together.
“A lot of work went into this,” said Col. Scott Lewis, Maine Army National Guard chief of staff, said. “Countless hours to prepare approximately 1,000 pages of supporting documentation, not to mention preparing for the inspection for the next level of competition.”
He thanked Chabe’s wife, Shannon, and the rest of his family for the support they gave Chabe. “Because that support translates to all of us.”
Chabe is now stationed in Bangor with the 521st Troop Command. Besides his wife, his mother, Tina Swain, and aunt, Joan Crawford, also attended the ceremony.
